10 Best Family Vacations in Illinois

A family vacation to Chicago is one to remember. Visit the iconic Bean in Millennium Park and share a classic deep-dish pizza. Marvel at the city’s architectural feats from a riverboat cruise or take the kids to a baseball game at historic Wrigley Field. For a thrill, ride up to the 103rd floor of Willis Tower and look down through the glass floor of The Ledge.

In Chicago, you have your pick of world-renowned museums. The Art Institute of Chicago houses a vast collection that includes impressionist and modern masterpieces, and the Field Museum boasts the world’s largest and most complete Tyrannosaurus Rex. Kids will be enthralled by the interactive exhibits at the Museum of Science and Industry and the incredible variety of marine life at the Shedd Aquarium.

Shawnee National Forest comprises nearly 300,000 acres of woodlands and rolling hills in southern Illinois. Lace up your hiking boots and explore the winding trails, many of which take you past unusual geological features and beautiful vistas. Don’t miss the Garden of the Gods, an area that features extraordinary sandstone formations.

Take the family out to sleep under the stars at one of the park’s many campgrounds. Go for a swim at Pounds Hollow or glide down the Big Muddy River in a canoe. Wherever you are, keep an eye out for the park’s diverse wildlife, which includes deer, foxes, and wild turkeys.

Charming Galena has year-round seasonal activities for the whole family. Stroll down historic Main Street to browse art galleries and antique shops, then grab a scoop from an old-fashioned ice cream parlor. Get your daily dose of history with a visit to the home of Civil War General and U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant.

Horseshoe Mound Preserve, on the outskirts of the city, features scenic outlooks with views across three states. Shenandoah Riding Center offers adventures through the countryside on horseback. Families visiting in winter should head to the Chestnut Mountain Resort, which offers skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing for various skill levels.

The hometown of President Abraham Lincoln, Springfield is an exciting destination for history buffs. The Lincoln Home, a must-see National Historic Site, gives tours of Lincoln’s home. Visitors can see Lincoln’s actual writing desk and tour the grounds as they were in the 1850s. The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum gives insight into his life and work. Younger children will enjoy the New Salem State Historic Site, a reconstruction of the village where Lincoln spent his youth.

Learn about the state’s legislative process at the State Capitol building and admire its ornate architecture, or visit the Old State Capitol, the historic place where Lincoln delivered his famous “House Divided” speech.

Bordered by Lake Michigan to the east and Wisconsin to the north, Lake County offers a Six Flags theme park and ample opportunities for camping and water sports. Hop in a paddleboat or canoe to explore the network of waterways at Chain O’Lakes State Park or the 115-acre lake at Independence Grover Forest Preserve.

Six Flags Great America is one of the country’s most exciting parks, with more than 100 rides and attractions. The Goliath roller coaster lives up to its name with a 255-foot drop. The unusual Volo Museum displays vehicles of all shapes and sizes, from antique cars to trains and tractors. The accompanying antique mall is the perfect place to hunt for nostalgic knick-knacks.

Decatur is home to the Children’s Museum of Illinois, which offers interactive science and art exhibits for young children. The museum offers tons of opportunities for learning and playing in simulated real-world scenarios. Kids will love climbing inside the giant eyeball and dressing up to perform at the museum’s kid-sized theater.

Relax at Nelson Park, a spacious city park on the shores of Lake Decatur. Practice your putting at the miniature golf course or challenge yourself on the ropes course. Take the family to a movie at the Avon Theatre – a local treasure with the best buttered popcorn around.

Rockford offers several excellent botanical gardens and the popular Discovery Center Museum. A heavily hands-on museum that encourages curiosity and exploration, children learn about the STEM disciplines through engaging activities. There is a unique outdoor play area and tons of activities accessible to children with special needs.

Take the family to Anderson Japanese Gardens for a peaceful afternoon strolling the gardens and feeding the giant koi fish. Nicholas Conservatory and Gardens features lush indoor gardens of exotic tropical plants, and the Klehm Arboretum has lovely walking trails surrounded by diverse tree and plant species.

Two hours southwest of Chicago lies the historic Starved Rock State Park. Designated as the state’s second state park, this important natural area is characterized by lush vegetation and gorgeous sandstone canyons. If you love to be immersed in nature but prefer not to camp, there are a number of cabins and a lodge offering cozy accommodations.

The park has 13 miles of hiking trails with varied lengths and levels of difficulty. Cascading waterfalls are a lovely sight in spring and a striking one when they freeze over in winter. Spread out your picnic blanket on the banks of the Illinois River and, if you’re lucky, catch sight of a majestic eagle flying overhead.

Peoria offers tons of opportunities for indoor and outdoor play and learning. The Peoria Riverfront Museum is your all-in-one stop for art and science, housing an impressive fine art collection and a planetarium. Glen Oak Park is a charming 19th-century park encompassing a botanical garden and a children’s museum. It’s also home to the Peoria Zoo, a shady park where you can feed giraffes and encounter endangered species like Black Rhinos and Snow Leopards.

If the family needs to burn off some energy, jump around at Elevate Trampoline Park or swim at Dragonland Water Park. Spend an afternoon at the popular Caterpillar Visitors Center, where visitors can hop in a big Cat and learn about the mechanics of these powerful machines.

Quincy has an assortment of unique attractions that families with older kids and young adults will enjoy. History enthusiasts will love searching through the treasure trove of military artifacts and memorabilia at the All Wars Museum. Take a tour of Villa Katherine, an unusual Moroccan-style mansion with a fascinating history.

On an island in the Mississippi, you’ll find the Log Cabin Village, a journey back to the era of frontier life. Four log cabins, a log church, and a stone smokehouse form a tiny frontier village. The Mark Twain Cave Complex just south of the city offer tours of the caves that inspired The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Tour guides share local legends and explain the caves’ geographical features.